Character Flaws

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

The journey to Red and Thor’s house took time, since with Thor’s ‘real job’, as he so lovingly referred to driving around disciplining any beings lower than his godliness, they had the cash to buy a small townhouse on the edge of where downtown met the residential area of town. Within walking distance but no easy feat when you spooked at every shadow. I reached the aforementioned lodgings and climbed onto the porch, the weathered but freshly painted wood squeaking beneath me. I raised my hand to knock and then stepped back to wait for someone to answer. Inside I heard an abrupt crash. Seconds later the door was opened to reveal Thor. Under normal circumstances I would have been on my back laughing, but as it was I could only manage a tired grin. He was wearing a pink lacy apron and had flour dusted across it and on his face. This was in direct contrast with the fierce expression on his face and the aggressive way in which he held the frying pan in his hands. When his eyes met mine the scowl shifted to welcoming grin.

“Little Mercutio!” He boomed. “What’s green and has wheels?” I was puzzled by the question, wondering if he asked everyone who came over to answer a riddle before he allowed them to enter or if I was just special. Luckily, Red came to my rescue. 

“Grass. He lied about the wheels.” She answered dryly. 

“You spoiled the joke!” He pouted. I was shocked to see him so relaxed and cheerful. This was not the Thor I knew and tolerated. 

“Come in, Merc.” Red said, shoving Thor out of the doorway and leading the way into the kitchen. “You want any cupcakes?” She called over her shoulder.

“No thanks.” I answered, looking at Thor nervously. In the kitchen I saw what had most likely caused the crash I heard. A pile of metal pans and dishes sat heaped on the floor in front of an open and empty cabinet. On the counter a tray of freshly baked chocolate cupcakes sat, steam rising into the air above them. 

“What can we help you with?” Red asked as Thor disappeared into the pantry and returned with a jar of icing. He stuck his finger in and ate some. “Come to un-confess your earlier false confession?” She suggested. I almost laughed. That seemed like so long ago. 

“No.” I said. “I need your help.” I launched into my second retelling of the afternoon’s events. When I finished Thor was all business. 

“We’re going downtown.” He said, straightening from where he had been leaning against the counter. I shook my head. 

“This can’t be some big police issue. I just don’t want some boy scouts digging up pieces of me in the woods next week.” I said. 

“Well, you need to come to the precinct and describe the man you saw in detail so we can get after him before the location of your various body parts becomes an issue.” He replied stubbornly. 

“No cop cars anywhere near my house.” I bargained. He sighed but agreed and began to lead the way back to the front door. I followed him with Red hot on my heels and we ended up gathered around Thor’s silver pickup. 

“I’m driving.” Red stated, making her way to the door.

“Just stay here.” Thor pleaded with her.

“Nope.” She said, opening the door. “Mercutio is one of my boys, I have to make sure you big bad police officers don’t take advantage of him.” She had to jump to make it into the cab of the truck. I looked at Thor and shrugged before making my way to the truck and sitting in the backseat. He should know as well as I did by now that it was as useless to argue with Red when she had made up her mind as it was to argue with a brick wall. It seemed that he had come to this conclusion as well as he stepped into the passenger side easily. The big truck was much more suited to his size than Red’s. The ride was silent during the drive except for the soft rasping of Johnny Cash coming from the car’s speakers. I never thought Thor would be the Johnny Cash kind of guy. When we reached the precinct Thor again took the lead, nodding at the officers in the front lobby as he made his way to the offices in the back. He stuck his head in one of the doors and a minute later a mousey man with thinning brown hair appeared next to him, completely dwarfed.